New York Times: President Obama’s decision to engage in a lengthy battle to defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria reorders the global priorities of his final years in office. The mystery is whether it will deprive him of the legacy he had once hoped would define his second term, or enhance it instead.
ISIS fight raises fears that efforts to curb Iran will slip
Arab allies pledge to fight Islamic State group
AP: Key Arab allies promised Thursday to “do their share” to fight Islamic State militants, but NATO member Turkey refused to join in, signaling the struggle the U.S. faces in trying to get front-line nations to put aside their regional animosities and work together to defeat a common enemy.
The enduring short-sightedness of Iraq policies
Al Jazeera: Excessive optimism about Iraq and its neighbours has proved disastrous in the past. It has, in fact, cost many human lives and contributed to the situation that the Middle East faces today. It will happen again if we forget prior mistakes and failings, and focus too narrowly on the Islamic State group and northern Iraq.
US can’t trust Iran as partner in battling ISIS
Boston Globe: While the Islamic State has only recently swept into the headlines due to its organizational strength and its barbarity, Iran has been and remains the key threat to the region and to the United States due to its nuclear ambitions, its ongoing sponsorship of international terrorism, and its quest for regional hegemony.
British-Iranian woman imprisoned for trying to watch men’s volleyball game in Tehran
The Independent: A British woman has been in an Iranian prison for more than two months for trying to watch a men’s volleyball match. Ghoncheh Ghavami, 25, was arrested along with more than a dozen women as they tried to enter a stadium where the Iranian national men’s team was playing Italy on 20 June.
Iran, European countries hold nuclear talks in Vienna
AFP: Officials from Iran and Britain, France and Germany were due Thursday to hold nuclear talks in Vienna towards reaching a potentially historic accord by November. The three European countries form part of a six-nation group including the United States, Russia and China due to resume negotiations with Iran in New York on September 18.
Iran says IAEA nuclear inquiry not stalled, will address concerns
Reuters: Iran said on Tuesday it would still address concerns about its nuclear programme, even though it missed a deadline last month for providing information about its suspected atomic bomb research. Western diplomats have often accused Iran of stonewalling the IAEA, but Najafi said: “There is no deadlock. We are sure we can implement that … We are ready to complete that.”
Kerry to arrive in Gulf for talks on tackling Islamic State
AFP: US Secretary of State John Kerry is set to arrive in the Gulf on Wednesday to help build a broad coalition against jihadists in Iraq and Syria that has already won support from Arab nations. Regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia is to host talks on Thursday between Kerry and ministers from 10 Arab states and Turkey on joint action against the Islamic State (IS) group.
Russian officials in Iran to boost economic ties
AP: Russian officials have traveled to Iran’s capital to boost economic ties between the two countries. Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh and Alexander Novak Minister of Energy of Russian Federation oversaw a meeting Tuesday of businessmen in Tehran, calling on them to increase trade.
Iraqi parliament approves partial new Cabinet
AP: Iraq’s parliament officially named Haider al-Abadi the country’s new prime minister late Monday and approved most of his proposed Cabinet. Lawmakers approved all of the candidates proposed for Iraq’s new government, with the exception of a few posts, namely the defense and interior ministers. Al-Abadi requested an additional week to name them.
